Ladakh’s first Government Medical College in Leh will begin operations from the academic year 2027–28 after the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare approved its operationalisation, the Ladakh government said on October 20. The decision also clears the way for recruitment to 103 sanctioned regular posts in phases, according to academic requirements.
The approval follows a request by Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena to Union Health and Family Welfare Minister JP Nadda on July 13, seeking a one-time relaxation of the requirement that nearly 80% of the college’s infrastructure be completed before faculty and support staff recruitment could begin. The relaxation is intended to allow preparatory recruitment while construction of the dedicated academic facilities continues.
The ministry has directed that recruitment against the 103 posts will be undertaken in a staggered manner from the 2027–28 academic year. The Ladakh administration will fill the positions on a regular basis under the approved Recruitment Rules and shift the college to its dedicated infrastructure once the proposed facilities are completed.
The college will initially function from interim facilities. Two newly constructed buildings have been identified for use as the Academic Block and Students’ Hostel. The existing 200-bedded Sonam Norboo Memorial Hospital in Leh, supported by about 60 experienced doctors, will provide clinical training facilities for the first batch of MBBS students.
The interim arrangement will operate under conditions stipulated by the Department of Expenditure until the dedicated medical college infrastructure is ready. The government has not specified in the announcement when construction of the permanent facilities will be completed.
The Ladakh administration said the college would expand opportunities for students seeking medical education within the Union Territory and strengthen clinical training and healthcare services. Saxena said the administration would make the necessary arrangements for academic activities to begin in 2027–28.
The approval makes recruitment and interim campus planning the immediate implementation steps, while the completion of the dedicated academic infrastructure remains necessary for the college’s eventual transition to its permanent facilities.
